Next-gen iPad Air will reportedly come in gold

Apple is planning to add a gold color option for its revamped 9.7-inch iPad Air, which is expected to be unveiled later this month, according to a Bloomberg report. The new choice of color for the rear metal cover will be in addition to the existing silver and grey options available for the device.

It may be an attempt to boost iPad sales, which have declined over the past two quarters. Apple sold 13.3 million iPads during the third quarter, down from 14.6 million in the year-ago quarter, and 16.3 million in Q2, down from 19.5 million in Q2 2013.

The new color option would also bring the company's tablets in line with the newly launched iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, both of which come in gold, silver, and space gray.

This isn't the first time a report has suggested that Apple is planning to add a gold variant to the iPad lineup. Earlier last month, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has a good track record when it comes to predicting Apple’s product announcements, also reported that the Cupertino-based company would come up with a gold color option for the next iPad Air.

In addition, the report also noted that Apple is working on a larger iPad with a 12.9-inch screen, which is around 75 per cent more screen area than the current 9.7 inch models. That device is expected to be unveiled next year.